New Mobile Sites for Clients

Mobile Website Designby Lee Willett / Studio 23

Along with our usual web design and developement services, Studio 23 now offers custom mobile website design for our clients. Mobile-optimized sites are created to load faster, navigate easier and read better than a traditional site which often requires pinching and zooming to view content.

But is this an iPhone app? No. But that’s a common question. Some clients ask us to build iPhone apps when, really, what they want is a mobile presence. iPhone apps are great but they’re also proprietary and only work on the iPhone, iPod Touches and iPads. Mobile  websites, however, are HTML-based, just like a desktop site, and can be viewed on Apple products as well as Blackberries, Android and Windows mobile phones. The advantages are that development time is faster, visitors don’t need to download a special app through a storefront, updates are made at the same time content on the site is updated, and companies can promote the mobile site just as they do their traditional URL.

While only a fraction of the traffic we see comes from mobile devices, our clients like to think ahead. We’re right there with them.

A Styleworks Upgrade

After two years of being in service, StyleWorks of Union Square wanted a fresh look to their website design. The old site, while still functioning, used older photos and a richer color scheme than the fresher look the client wanted to portray. That gave Studio 23 the ability to make some upgrades to the back end as well and promote the client’s social media links more prominently. The first thing we did was to install the latest version of Joomla content management system and port much of the content from the existing site.

Next, we designed a lighter and more open look and feel to the website while keeping accents in the client’s signature red. Once the framework was created, the client asked that we add new functions to promote her Skype consultations, her new blog, and new image training products. We also added more robust analytics and are working on an ongoing basis on optimizing page rank and search engine performance. Because we know that no matter how nice the website design is, what’s important is what the design does—builds clients.

So far, our client is thrilled with her stylish new look that just happens to fit perfectly.

A New Site for Aino Education

Aino Education Website Design by Lee Willett / Studio 23

news_ainoStudio 23 is excited to be working with Aino Education on the launch of their company and the development of their identity, website design and collateral materials. Owner Colin Greene knew he wanted an identity that was clean and simple and a website that was flexible enough that it could be changed and updated quarterly has his programs expanded. Studio 23 responded by creating a simple identity and a site that uese bold colors and lots of white space to highlight the client’s text. But creating a great design is only the start.

Once launced, Studio 23 is working to tweak the site’s keywords and meta data to improve search engine optimization. By following the traffic and trends of the site, we’re able to optimize search results and drive visitors. Since the site’s launch, we’ve been tracking the data, changing the website design to improve performance, adding and changing pages as necessary. To that end, we can say that building this site has been an education.

Simbiosis Multicultural Marketing

Simbiosis Website Design by Lee Willett / Studio 23

How do you connect with potential clients when your business is all about making connections? You hire Studio 23 to design and build a website that’s simple, clean, and allows you to update it and make changes easily.

The startup company Simbiosis serves as a bridge to foster new business connections between companies and agencies in the Latino and multicultural markets. As such, they needed a site where potential clients could learn more about the company, serving as a lead generator. Tony Dagnery, Simbiosis’s President, knew what he needed but because he was starting up, was afraid his costs would be prohibitive. Fortunately, he is also very hands-on and once the website site was set up, he was able to make changes as necessary, thus saving time and money.

And how is Simbiosis today? It’s making connections.

Bitforms Gallery

Bitforms Gallery Website Design by Lee Willett / Studio 23

bitforms2_pageBitforms gallery asked Studio23 to update the design of their website by adding a host of new features, including videos and podcasts, without changing the simple, clean look of the site. Furthermore, while the content management system needed some upgrades, they didn’t want to have to learn a new management system.

Our solution? Create a new front-end that better shows the diverse work of their artists while upgrading their back-end system to allow for better management of new media files. The new system allows the administrator to upload and manage not only still graphics but video files that stream quickly—an important addition for a gallery whose artists’ work is often kinetic.

How does the system come together? See for yourself at bitforms.com.

A Stylish New Look

Styleworks of Union Square Branding and Identity by Lee Willett / Studio 23

StyleWorks1Styleworks of Union Square asked Studio23 to create a new identity, stationery system and website as professional and stylish as themselves. Studio23 rose to the challenge and created a simple and elegant identity that is changeable for various audiences and uses. The business cards, shown below, took the form of an apparel tag—a perfect metaphor for a company that helps clients look their best. The website explains the various services of the company and helps to generate new clients.

And how does the client like the new identity? Let’s just say, it’s a perfect fit.

A Site That’s Out of This World for AMNH

American Museum of Natural History Le Perigord restaurant website design by Lee Willett / Studio 23

AMNH_Saturn1The American Museum of Natural History asked Studio23 to design a website to accompany it’s on-site exhibition of images from the Cassini-Huygens probe orbiting Saturn. The installation included a wealth of high-resolution images and text explaining the mission, the planet, it’s moons and space photography. We at Studio23 were excited to create a site that displays the photos and the information simply and beautifully.

How was the site received? Well, we’ve heard that some think it is out of this world.

Dinosaurs Alive!

Dinosaurs Alive Website Design by Lee Willett / Studio 23
Dinosalive_homeFor the IMAX film Dinosaurs Alive, the American Museum of Natural History and Giant Screen Films chose Studio 23 to create a site as a gateway to a global adventure of science and discovery. Visitors can learn about he film, view the trailer and even send dinosaur e-cards to friends. The site uses images from the film and computer-generated dinosaurs to give the user an experience that brings dinosaurs back to life.

Golden Opportunity for AMNH

American Museum of Natural History Exhibition Le Perigord restaurant website design by Lee Willett / Studio 23
GOLD_homeIn the glittering American Museum of Natural History exhibition entitled Gold, ancient coins, sunken treasure, trophies, jewelry, and other cultural artifacts, along with extraordinary natural specimens, tell the story of this enduring symbol of wealth and success. The museum chose Studio 23 to design the promotional website and create interactive content elements to inform and entertain its target audience. Working within the branding guidelines of the museum, we leveraged elements from the exhibition and developed an online widget that invited visitors to find “if they’re worth their weight in gold.”

A Bilingual Gallery Site

Studio 23 develops dual-language site for Bitforms, a gallery that specializes in computer-related art. With the establishment of its second gallery in Seoul, Bitforms needed to be able to showcase its growing stable of artists on its website. They turned to Studio 23 to develop a system that manages digital photography, artwork, and allows for other content changes in both English and Korean.